Lion’s Mane Focus (Hericium erinaceus)

• Mushroom for Focus
• Mushroom for Mental Clarity

Mushrooms are all around us, they are the true communicators in nature. Medicinal mushrooms have been used globally for thousands of years for their health benefits and can provide the missing link to support our health and well-being. Each medicinal mushroom has its own unique set of compounds to support health, let’s learn more about lion’s mane:

Meet the Mushroom

Lion’s mane is a powerhouse of nutrients and revered in traditional medicine. Also called ‘the mountain priest mushroom’, in recent years it has been investigated for its beneficial effects on cognitive health, with numerous studies supporting the claims made by traditional medicine.  

History/Traditional Uses

Historically, lion’s mane was reserved for royalty, but it has been used for centuries for its anti-microbial and immunological activity. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it was used as a tonic for supporting overall health and longevity. Buddhist monks were also said to have used it as a tea to enhance brain power and heighten their focus during meditation. 

Benefits: Why you should use it?

• Brain Health : Lion’s mane has long been revered for its cognitive and neurological effects. Studies have found it stimulates production of nerve growth factor (NGF) which helps to maintain the neurons, which are the brain cells responsible for helping us to process and transmit information. It is useful for learning and memory, and helps to optimise neurogenesis; the creation and growth of new brain cells, making it an ideal nootropic for supporting focus and productivity. 
• Immunity: Lion’s mane mushroom contains bioactive compounds, including beta-glucans, which can support and modulate the immune system. By enhancing immune response, lion’s mane can help to support overall health.
• Mental Health: Studies suggest lion’s mane can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by modulating the levels of specific neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which play crucial roles in regulating mood, motivation, and stress response.

Key Actives

• Hericenones and Erinacines: Lion’s mane is rich in hericenones and erinacines which are believed to contribute to the mushroom’s cognitive-enhancing properties. They have strong anti-bacterial activity and help stimulate the generation of nerve growth factor (NGF) which is a neuropeptide that helps to maintain neurons and supports optimal brain functioning.
• Beta-glucans: High amounts of polysaccharides including beta-glucans to support immunity.
• Antioxidants: Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. 

Product Info

Our Organic Lion's Mane Focus uses a full spectrum of mushroom parts by blending the full grown fruiting body with a myco-fermented sorghum containing young fruiting bodies and filaments. This combination provides a source of all key compounds associated with lion’s mane for enhanced synergy. 

It is grown for 120 days, as opposed to the standard 30 days, exhausting the substrate and providing a more concentrated profile of beta-glucans and other key compounds. It has a minimum of 10% beta-glucans to support immunity, and a range of other compounds to support cognitive health.

FULL SPECTRUM: Our limited edition range are ideally suited for modern day lifestyle and stresses. They are less therapeutic than our pure grade range, but contain additional nutrients for a wider spectrum of action and are our most popular products. We use a combination of mushroom parts including the young fruiting bodies, filaments, and the fermented mushroom medium to provide a full-spectrum profile of nutrients. 

How to use

Capsules: Adults take 2 capsules, 1-3 times a day with or without food or try adding the powder from the capsules into a smoothie. 

Powder: Take 1g 1-4 times a day. Lion’s mane has a mild nutty flavour, you can make a tasty tea using the powder, add it to your matcha, coffee, smoothies, and breakfast bowls.

FAQs

When is the best time to take it? : For cognitive and mood support, it’s advised to take lion’s mane in the morning or early afternoon. This timing ensures that its benefits align with periods of peak mental activity. Regular consumption of lion’s mane can help you take advantage of its health benefits.

Are there any interactions? : We would advise anyone on any medication, or those who are pregnant/breastfeeding to check with their healthcare practitioner.

Are there any side effects? : Rare side effects associated with lion’s mane may include abdominal discomfort, nausea, and skin rash. 

Do you test the product? : Yes, it is third party tested, COA are available on request.

Why do you source from China? : The use of medicinal mushrooms was a cornerstone in Traditional Chinese Medicine and this practice dates back thousands of years. No country has more extensive knowledge than China in the growing and extraction of mushrooms. China is also home to some of the vastest and most pristine forests in the world, which provide the ideal environment for mushrooms to grow. It is universally agreed, through ongoing DNA analysis, that China continue to grow the best quality mushrooms in the world.

What’s the difference between this product and the Pure Grade Lion’s Mane? : We use different parts of the mushroom in our Pure Grade Lion’s Mane and Lion’s Mane Focus products. The Pure Grade Lion’s Mane is an extract of the fruiting body, and has more of a therapeutic aim. The Lion’s Mane Focus contains pure fruiting body as well as the filaments and young fruiting bodies and has a broader range of compounds including both hericenones and erinacines, making it more of a lifestyle product for nootropic support, studying, and mental clarity.

Combine with

Lion’s Mane Focus can be taken on its own or combined with other supplements and functional foods for synergistic effects. For example, pairing lion’s mane with omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish oil, may enhance its cognitive benefits. Additionally, combining lion’s mane with other nootropics like rhodiola or ginseng.

Fungi Fact

Lions mane is called the ‘monkey head mushroom’ in Chinese and also the ‘hedgehog mushroom.’